Attempting A Daring Rescue
Customer: “I want to speak to a manager!”
Me: “I can get my supervisor to—”
Customer: “—I wasn’t clear. I want to speak to the manager. The. As in the store manager.”
Me: “She’s dealing with another customer at the moment, so it might be a while.”
Customer: “Then I will wait.”
I page the manager over. I know they’re going to be a while, so ask the next customer to step forward. The original customer takes great offense at this.
Customer: “What the h*** do you think you’re doing?!”
Me: “While you wait for the store manager, I will help other customers.”
Customer: “How dare you ignore me! You’re waiting on me now!”
Me: “Sir, you made it clear that only the store manager can help you, and you are free to wait for them. These other customers do not need to wait for the store manager, so I will help them now.”
Customer: “How dare you! No one else gets served until I get served! If that upsets you, get your manager over here faster!”
Me: “I’m not going to do that, sir. My manager will get here as soon as she’s able.”
I again gesture for the next customer to step forward. The original customer tries to get in the way and starts ranting again, but the next customer forces past him and places his basket on my belt. I start to ring him up.
Customer: “How dare you! How dare you!”
Other Customer: “My friend, you keep saying that, but she’s doing it anyway. I think we can safely say that she dares.”
Customer: “You pushed past me! I’m going to sue you for assault!”
The other customer rolls his eyes and turns to me as I finish ringing up his few items.
Customer: “How dare you ignore me!”
Other Customer: *To me.* “Dare I ask, but you gonna be okay with him? Want me to wait?”
Me: “Oh, I wouldn’t dare ask you to do such a thing.”
Other Customer: “You’re not asking, I’m offering. I wouldn’t dare leave you alone with him until your manager gets here.”
Customer: “You’re mocking me, aren’t you! How d—” *Pauses.* “—you’ll be sorry! You’ll both be sorry!” *Storms off.*
Other Customer: “Sheesh! How often does that happen?”
Me: “Often enough, but not more than I can handle.”
A few seconds later, my manager actually shows up (way quicker than I was expecting), after having seen the customer storm off. She asks, obliviously:
Manager: “Dare I ask what that was about?”
She looked confused when the other customer and I couldn’t suppress our laughter.
